beau-tees

HOLE ONE

A tough opening hole, often rated as one of the most difficult on the course.

An accurate tee shot is vital in order to have a chance of attacking the pin, which is a very demanding shot. Green is protected at the front by three pot bunkers.

Padraig says

A LOT of people rate this as the toughest opening shot on the Open rota.

And it can be, especially in the wind and rain – but only if you let it get to you.

When players pull out their driver here, I think to myself: ‘Why would you do that? With out of bounds all down the right and that huge mound on the left, why do you need to add more stress to the shot?’.

It’s nerve-wracking enough, so my strategy is to take a three wood or a long iron and leave myself a longer shot to the green.

Sure, you’re probably just shifting the pressure to the second shot , but at least you’ve had time to draw breath - and hopefully put your ball in play.

* THE MIRACLE ON 17TH STREET

HARRINGTON rates his approach shot to set up his final round eagle at the 17th, a five wood from 272 yards that finished a few feet from the flag, as “the greatest shot of my career” .

But, remarkably, he almost didn’t take it on! He explained: “I had a downhill lie, and the gap between the two bunkers at the front of the green looked about the size of a pinhead.

“It was quite a risky shot, because with the flag at the back, it’s not easy to make birdie from those bunkers.

“But my playing partner, Greg Norman was past me off the tee, so I knew he could go for the green from where he was. I didn’t know I was only two ahead of Ian Poulter, who had already finished, just that I was three clear of Greg.

“I thought if he makes eagle and I lay up and make par I’ll be just the one shot ahead, and he’ll have the momentum going down the last.

“This was my chance to finish it off. I took my favourite club, the five wood, and I couldn’t have hit it any better.”